Sports log: Nadal, Williams win Italian Open titles

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After all these years, Rafael Nadal still knows how to dominate Roger Federer. In their 30th meeting, Nadal controlled the final from the start and won his seventh Italian Open, 6-1, 6-3, on Sunday in Rome. It tied for the second-most lopsided win in the series since Nadal also lost just four games (but over three sets) in the 2008 French Open final against Federer. At the tour finals in London in 2011, Nadal allowed Federer just three games. Nadal improved to 20-10 against Federer, and showed once again that he’ll be the player to beat when the French Open starts next Sunday. It was the fifth-ranked Spaniard’s sixth title since returning from a seven-month layoff because of a left knee injury. In the women’s final, Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title in impressive fashion, beating Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 6-3. The top-ranked American will go to Paris on a career-best 24-match winning run. Williams held a 41-12 edge in winners and served nine aces to Azarenka’s none.

BASEBALL

Rangers place Kinsler on disabled list

The Rangers placed second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with bruised ribs and recalled top prospect Jurickson Profar from Triple A Round Rock. Kinsler is hitting .302 with 7 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 24 runs in 40 games . . . Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (right hamstring) and first baseman Ryan Howard (left knee) will have MRIs on Monday. Ruiz said he felt a ‘‘pop’’ while running the bases in the second inning of Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Reds. Howard, who didn’t play, missed 91 games last season with an Achilles’ tear. He has four hits in his last 34 at-bats and is batting .245 with 46 strikeouts in 151 at-bats this season . . . The Indians expect Daisuke Matsuzaka to pitch again in the minor leagues within the next month after an oblique injury sidelined him while he was pitching for Triple A Columbus on April 28. The ex-Red Sox righthander signed a minor-league contract and was given a chance to win a job in Cleveland’s rotation in spring training. The Indians released him before he re-signed and reported to Columbus.

SOCCER

Ferguson’s farewell marks end of era

At the end of his 1,500th game in charge of Manchester United, 71-year-old Alex Ferguson bowed in front of thousands of applauding fans — and then bowed out of soccer for good. The most successful managerial career in British soccer history is over, leaving a void that might not be filled for generations. And what a thrilling way to bow out at West Bromwich Albion in central England — the first 5-5 draw in the Premier League on the back of a 13th championship for Ferguson. John Sivebaek scored 9,675 days ago for the first United goal under Ferguson, and Javier Hernandez scored the last. The official retirement party was last week at home when 76,000 fans at Old Trafford saluted Ferguson for delivering the record-extending 20 English league titles for United . . . In MLS, Tim Cahill scored on a header off a crossing pass in second-half stoppage time, lifting the host New York Red Bulls to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy . . . Kyle Porter scored the first goal of his MLS career in the 65th minute as D.C. United snapped a seven-game losing streak in a 1-1 tie with visiting Sporting Kansas City. United is still winless in nine games (0-7-2) . . . Ned Grabavoy scored in the fourth and 91st minutes to power Real Salt Lake to a 4-1 win over Chivas USA in Carson, Calif.

HOCKEY

Sweden captures gold, US gets bronze

Sweden became the first home team to win the world hockey championships in 27 years, beating Switzerland, 5-1, in Stockholm. Canucks star Henrik Sedin had two goals and an assist, and Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth made 26 saves. Switzerland earned its first medal in 60 years. In the third-place game, the United States beat Finland, 3-2, in a shootout for its first medal in nine years. Alex Galchenyuk (Canadiens) scored back-to-back goals in the shootout for the Americans, and Craig Smith (Predators) and Paul Stastny (Avalanche) had first-period goals.

MISCELLANY

Duke, Denver advance to NCAA semis

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David Lawson scored his career-best fifth goal with 2:16 remaining to lift Duke to a 12-11 win against Notre Dame in the NCAA lacrosse quarterfinals in Indianapolis. The Blue Devils advance to play Cornell in Saturday’s semifinals in Philadelphia. It will be Duke’s seventh consecutive trip to the Final Four. The Blue Devils won the national championship in 2010. In the other quarterfinal in Indianapolis, Eric Law scored with 13 seconds left as Denver rallied from a six-goal deficit to defeat North Carolina, 12-11. In its second trip to the Final Four in the last three years, Denver will play top-seeded Syracuse . . . Kenyan Philemon Terer won the Cleveland Marathon in 2 hours, 17 minutes, 37 seconds. Another Kenyan, Sarah Kiptoo, won the women’s race in 2:33:42. The race was held under tightened security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings . . . Longtime NASCAR driver Ken Schrader, 57, became the oldest winner in ARCA Racing Series history, dominating the Menards 200 at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway. Schrader surpassed Iggy Katona as the oldest series winner. . . American Levi Leipheimer says he retired from professional cycling when his six-month ban for doping violations ended March 1 and he was unable to sign with a new team. The 39-year-old Leipheimer, from Butte, Mont., was fired by the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team in October after confessing to doping as part of the investigation that brought down Lance Armstrong. Leipheimer was Armstrong’s teammate for five years during stints with the US Postal Service, Astana, and RadioShack teams before joining Quick Step last season.